Editing Politics of Venezuela (section)

==== 2017 ====
The strong performance by the opposition led to the reduction of the legislative powers due to the judiciary's increased scope and politicization.  The Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), controlled by the PSUV, invalidated three deputies' elections from the opposition. When this ruling was not accepted by the Assembly, its powers were stripped.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Latin American politics and development|others=Kline, Harvey F.,, Wade, Christine J.|date=18 July 2017|isbn=9780813350509|edition= Ninth |location=New York, NY|oclc=962551647}}</ref> By 2017, the old legislative body was dismissed and transformed into the [[2017 Venezuelan Constituent Assembly election|New Constituent National Assembly]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/venezuela|title=Venezuela|website=freedomhouse.org|language=en|access-date=26 November 2018|date=5 January 2018}}</ref> This was similar to the [[1999 Constituent Assembly of Venezuela|Constituent Assembly in 1999]], having power to change the constitution and dismantle pre-existing officials and/or the bodies themselves.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/08/01/venezuelas-dubious-new-constituent-assembly-explained/|title=Analysis {{!}} Venezuela's controversial new Constituent Assembly, explained|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref> The members of the Constituent Assembly were chosen in July 2017, during elections that were largely boycotted by the opposition, with accusations of illegitimacy.<ref name=":3" />